Thermostatic control device



Dec. l, 1942. H. A. MAN'rz 2,303,702

l THERMOSTATIG CONTROL DEVICE Filed June y30, 1939 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. l, 1942 UNITED STATE-s PATE 'rnnnmos'rs'rlc coN'laoL nevica .i nai-ela anni, Milwaukee, wie. assignmte' Milwaukee Gas Specialty ompany,'Mil Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin i wankee,

Application .me so, 193s, serial Nc. zsaosa l claims.

This invention relates 'to a thermostatlcicon- -trol device.-

wmie tnepmicuier device which I shall" de,- scribe hereinafter in connection with the drawing is a heat thermostatie control device adapted for use with water heaters and the like. it is to be understood that the invention in its broader aspects. is not limited to embodiment in the particular types of devices shown and described.

Moreover. the invention is not limited to the partisular use shown and described but may be employed for other purposes-for example, in connection with ovenl. space heaters, and elsewhere as suitable and desired.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide an improved form of safety shut-on device under the control of a pilot burner and also (Cl. 236-21) e Y scription' taken in connectiony with thefaccom- Num dl'winlrin which: f.

, Figure 1 is a vertical section through avffragc with:

ment of a water heater showing one illustrative embodiment of the invention in connection there- Figure 2 is a vertical section takenfasially through the heat regulator andsafety shut-oil device shown in Figure 1, and on asomewhat larger scale than Figure l; `and Figure 3 is a fragmentary section taken axially through another/ form of device .embodyinlthe present invention., 4 l Referringrst to Figure 1, a hotwaterheater is indicated generally at 6 and comprises ,fagtank l 6 adaptedto contain the water `to lbe heated.

under the control of the temperature of the water in the tank inthe case of a water'beater. or under the control cf some other abnormal. defective, or insuincient fimctioning or non-function.

upon extinguishment of the pilot burner and upon an undesirable rise in the temperature of the water in the tank, or upon other abnormal.

defective. orl insumcient functioning or non-vn Ving of the apparatus, whereby. the safety shut. v 'oil' device will operate to safety shut-oi! position The tank 8 has -a bottom 1 ,defining` the upper wall of a heater chamber I in which is `disposed amainburner 9.. n

The burner 9 is supplied with fuel bya pipe i! which is .connected to the burner through the body oi.' the heat regulator, as presently ap' l pear.' Where the burner 4is a gasburnerpthe :uci supply ripe Supplies-,sas thereto.l.and'.' in

that case,the fuel supply pipe is preferablyoonnected to the burner 8 through a suitableair and gas' admixture chamber Il, the fuel delivery nozzle being indicated at lia.

Associated with er m juxtaposition cc' uic burner 9 is the usual or any suitable or preferred ,Y pilot burner indicated more or less'diagrammati-V cally at I4, which pilot bi'irllery is intended to remain lighted for the purpose of Vrellghtirigfthe functioning of the apparatus, and also upon extinguishment of the pilot burner. i

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device of the class described of simple and inexpensive construction, and which is effective land reliable in operation; also a device which is easy to assemble and install, and a device having a quick or snap acting shut-oi! for shutting oil the supply of'fuel not only at the desired temperature or upon other abnormal defective, or inf sumcient functioning or non-functioning of the apparatus, but also upon extinguishment of the pilot burner.

Further objects 'and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed demain burner upon extinguishment thereof.` .y .'lhe

pilot burner is supplied with fuel by' a pipe il connected to the body of the control device, will be hereinafter described.

The conoci device, indicated ln its entirety at i8, comprises a body or casing 2u having a fuel inlet 2i and an outlet 22 disposed with its axis parallel with the axis er the inlet zlbutcirset relative thereto, although this may vary widely. The body or casing 221s providedwith an inlet chamber communicating with the inlet 2|,

and an outlet chamber` 2l' communicating with' the outlet 22. A valve seat 2i is seated against anannular flange 21, and is preferably heldin place by pressed ilt in the body 2l, or otherwise v as desired. The valve seat 22 has ports", for 4placing Athe inietchamber 24 in with the outlet chamber 25. V I,

A valve disc ll has an annularraised portion which, in the position shown in Figure 2, seats against the annular raised seat l2', closing andY f shutting oif communicationubetwcen the inlet Ain Figure 1.

chamber 24 and the outlet chamber 25 through the valve seat ports 28. A spring cup 84 has a central depression whichseats upon the pointed inner end of an adjusting screw 85. The cup 34 serves as a seat for one end of a compression spring 88' which bears against the valve disc 88 at its other end and tends to hold the valve disc 38 seated or in closed position.

The outer y end of the inlet chamber 24 is tapped to receive a valve cap f88, and the screw 35 is threaded through this cap 85 coaxial with respect to the valve disc 88. Fixed against relative rotation on the outer end oi' the screw 85 and adapted to tum the screw therewith is,

`a temperature selecting or adjusting knob or linger piece 38. The knob 38, which is shown 88 and in good heat-conducting contact therewith is a permanent magnet 88 which, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, is of Vannular form. With, the increased magnetic strength now available with the proper materials and the right treatment, the permanent magnet E8 may be relatively small and, at the same time, 'will have suitable streng-th for the intended purpose. Also fixed by pressed 4lit, or otherwise, in

secured to the adjusting screw 85 by a lscrew 48,

may be held against rotation relative to the screw 85v by splining it thereon, or by splaying the outer end oi the screw 85 and forming the opening in the knob 88 with a flat portion for cooperation therewith, or otherwise as desired.

A pointer 42 is nxed for example bv a nut or lother means at 48 to the knob 88. 'I'he `means -at 48, for example, may constitute meansvfor calibrating the pointer with respect to the temperature scale 44 with which the pointer cooperates.

The outer end of the pointer 42 moves over a dial or scale marked on the valve cap 88 at 44 upon grasping the knob 88 and turning the same to thread the screw intoand out of the valve body. The scale has the usual orany preferred temperature markings'the range of which may be oi any extent needed for the particular installation. A suitable gasket may be provided at 48 between vthe valve body and the ilang'e on 'the cap 88.

The body or casing 28 of the device has an extension 48. This extension 48 is externally threaded at 88 to adapt it to be mounted in the shell or wall of the tank 8 as shown, for example, The inlet 2| and outlet 22 are tapped internally to receive, respectively, the inlet and outlet pipe sections ila and Illb ofthe fuel supply pipe I8 for the main burner.

A tube l2 preferably formed of metal or other good heat conducting materialiextends into the tank 8 for contact with the water therein. A rod 84 is disposed coaxially within the tube 52. The rod i4 is slidable axially through an opening in the valveseat 28, and, at its outer end, engages or is secured in an axial recess 55 in the "valve disc 88. The inner end ofthe tube 52 is the cup 88 and against the permanent magnet '58 is an annular member 18 which' is made of a relatively low temperature sensitive magnetic alloy or a relatively low Curie point material well known in the art. The permanent magnet 88 constitutes a source of magnetic iiux for, theV Curie point member 18.

The member 18, by reason of the material of' which it is composed and its position against or in proximity 'to the permanent magnet 88, is ordinarily magnetic but'becox'nes substantiallynon-magnetic or of reduced magnetic strength v when heated to a sumciently high: temperature.

4"In the illustrated embodiment of the invention ythe critical temperature at' which thevmember 18 becomesA non-magnetic, or at least-ot insumcient magnetic strength to hold the armature 12 in attracted position, is the temperature at which it is desired to operatethe safetyA shut-olf means to shut on the-supply of -fuel to the main burner. The armature or keeper 12 is iixed at-13 upon the inner end .of thethermostat rod 54, and is movable withinthe tube 52 lengthwise thereof and between the plug '58 and the .relatively low` Curie point metal member 1li. The armature'or keeper 12 is formed of soft iron or 'of an alloy or other suitable xmaterial adapted to be held in attracted position against the Curie point member 18 as longas Ithis member is magnetic and.

tobe `releasedfor movement to retracted position at the critical temperature at which the ,member llbecomes non-magnetic,l or at least of insumcient magneticstrength to'holdthe armature 12 in attracted position.

To the left of the wall or partition 62 as the device is viewed in Figure 2, the body 28 has an opening*v in which an electromagnetY carrying member 18 is secured, for example by threaded engagement as shown. A suitable gasket 18 may -be provided between the valve' body 28 and the `nange on the member 18.

The I'electromagnet carried by comprises a generally U-shaped magnet frame '88 suitably secured to the member 18 and a coil extension 48, as indicated at 80. The rod 54 hassliding support at a positionspaced inwardly fromthe valve seat 28 in the wall or partition 82 of the valve body. The opening in the wall 82 through which the rod 54 slides may be sealed in any suitable or desired manner, for example, as indicated diagrammatically at 88.

Spaced outwardly from its inner end the tube 52 has' an annular depression forming an internal annular bead or shoulder 55.` A cup 66 seats against. the annular bead or shoulder 65 and is held in place in the tube 52l by pressed ilt therein, or otherwise as desired. The cup-66 is preferably formed of good heat-conducting metal in good heat-conducting contact with the tube 52. The outer end of the cup 88 has an opening surrounded by an annular iiange 51 in which the rod 54 has sliding support.

Fixed bypressed fit, or otherwise, in the cup 82 wound' about the legs of the -magnet frame. The magnet frameneed not be U-shaped, but may be oi' any other Asuitable form. Although any other form of thermocouple connector means may be'employed in-the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the member 18 is formed of insulating material and vcarries a pair of metallic terminal connectors 84` connected, respectively, as shown diagrammaticallyat 85 and 88 to the terminals of the coil 82. If desired,'one terminal of the coilmay be' grounded for example, to the valve b ody, in which case 'only one terminal connector is required. The cap or member 18 and the thermocouple connector means thereon, as well yas 'the cooperating thermocouple4 connector means on the adjacent end ofA the lead connection are of the general character illustrated and described in the copending application of Clarence Wantz, Serial No. 239,790, filed November l0, 1938. -y

A thermocouple 88 is placed in position to be heated by the pilot light, and is connected in cirthe member` 1l .opening lll.

cuitiwith the 'ele'ctromagnett and particularly f with the'coil 82"'thereof. The thermocouple 88 and the'leadconnection therefor are'oi'athe genthereby opening the valvetoset up and maintain eral character disclosed and claimed in Oscar 'J.

LeinsPatent No, 2,126,564,v granted August 9,

1938. Any other suitable `form of Vthermocouple mocouple element 33a and an inner thermocouple element .8b 'joined to form the thermal junction which is positioned lto be heated by the pilot light. The lead connection comprises an outer tubular lead conductor 3l connected at one end to the outer therm'ocouple element "a,A and an inner lead conductor Il vinsulated from the outer leadconductor andl connected at one en d tothe inner 'thermocouple element 33h., -v At the -opposite end, 4the-inner lead conducto vIl extends'from the outerlead conductor Il 'and has a metallic terminal vsleeve 32 ilxed thereon'in good conductive contact therewith and -spaced from the end :ofthe outer heat lconductor 33.

An' insulating sleeve 93 is interposed between the terminal sleeve 92 and theadiacent end of the outer lead'conductor 30.

A quick detachable connection is thus provided the rod 54 to the right as viewed lin FigureZ. This moves the valve disc 30 from its seat 32 a supply oi fuel to themain burner as long as the armature is in attracted position.

'Ihe supply of fuel, for the pilot burner is es 'A d tablished through a passageway [20 in the valve body'2ll. This passageway by-'passes the valve member 30 tosupply fuel to the pilot burner I4 regardless of whether the .valve 30 is open or closed;

1f the safety temperature of the water in the l" tank 6 is exceeded, the Curie point member IIL n instantly becomes non-magnetic or of-insuicient magnetic strength to hold the armature or keeper 12 in .attracted position. As a result, the armature is released and the spring. y30': moves 'the valve member 30 to closed position completely to shut oi the su ply of fuel to thefmain burner 9.

Upon movemen of the valve-member ltogclosed position the amature 1.2 is moved to retracted position as shown in Flgure 2.

between the thermocouple lead and the terminals 34 for the electromagnetc'oil I2. Thetherxno-- couple is connected to the terminals Il by slippingthe terminal end of the thermocouple lead means through an opening in one terminal 84 and into the'opening in the 'other'.4 terminal, with the terminal sleeve 'I2 in the opening in' one terminal and the end of thetubular thermocouple lead 90 in theopening in the otherterminal. The-terminals 34 may be split at their/outer ends and screws (not shown)I provided forV clamping the split portions of these terminals'into goodfconductive contact and'gripping engagementWiththe-trmlnal sleeve $2 and the tubular lead l0, respectively. f

Theelectromagnet is provided with'an armature QI which issecured or connected at l"to a yoke 39.' The yoke 83 straddles the rod N within the housing or body 2l and has secured there- 0n the' other hand, upon extinguishmentxoi the pilot ame the electromagnet. comprising the magnet frame". and the coiimeans v82, ceases to v be energized suiilciently to hold thearmature 98 in attracted. position. As a result, the armature 93 is released and the spring i'moves the armature Si to retracted. position and the reset button 102 yto outwardly projected position.' The Iarmature 9Min its movement to `retracted posi-1 tion, acts through its cooperation withthe arm Ill of the bell crank lever IID to swing thisV lever in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot H2 as. the device is viewed. in Figure 2. f Asa' result of this counterclockwise movement ofthe.

' lever H0, the arm' H5 thereof. lbyy its cooperation to a reset stem Ill. The stem Ill extends out through an opening III in the valve body and, has

a reset lbutton N2 secured o'n its outerend.I

Suitable packing at N3 seals the opening Ill.

'IOL A coiled spring ill surrounds thestem ill land is interposedjbetween thebutton |32 and the packing |33. The spring 'Illholdsthe packing |83 tightly in sealing relation about the sternv Il l. and against the 'valve body. adjacent the The spring 135 also serves to return the button |32 to outwardly projected position,

.and the armature 36 to retracted position, when c the electromagnet is deen'ergized by extinguish- -ment of the pilot-light. f A bell crank lever III is pivoted in the housing or body- 23 at H2, and has one arm III', which -'engages or cooperates with thearmature 36, and 'a `second armjlli, which engages or cooperates vwith 'an abutment or flange llt, xed onthe rod 54. l I y l In operation, as long as'the temperature to "which chacune point member is subjectedy is be low the critical temperature and the electromagnetis energized by the heat of the pilot iiame the t0 attracted position causes endwise movementof and the button |32 operatessliding in; the recess v with the abutment or ,flange |I6, forcesvthe r'od 14 to theleft as ,viewed in Figure-2 and therebyv the amature or keeper rI2 intoretracted" posie l tion. The disengagement of thekeeperlZ from the Curie point member 10, notwithstanding the.A action o f this member lO/in vholding the keeperfvr I2 in attracted'position,'pern 1its the springfn' to move the valve member 3l to closed position v completely to shut oilthe supply of fuel tothe i burnerl v j When thegtemperature drops below the prede itermined temperature with the pilot light burn-y ing the Curie pointfmember becomesmagnetic Y 4'or of sumcient magnetic strength to attract .the l l armature 12 moving the valve to open lposition .andmaintaining same open until the predetermined-temperature isvagain reached orexceeded- 4or untilthe pilot light is extinguished. y' fr By rotating the knob or ringer piece 38-t0 seta, the pointer 42 at thedesiredtemperature marking at I4, thespring v3il'y is tensioned an amount to actuate the keeper to retracted position and 'closethe `valve 3l at Vthe selected temperature.

Theretorerwhen I referto the critical temperature o! the Curie point member 10 I rerer to the temperature at whichthe Curie point member...`

becomes of insuicient magnetic strength to hold substantially non-magnetic.

Instead .of relying on the spring |051 to. actua@ the rod 5I endwise .byk the actuatorlHLfanadditional spring or other means maybeprovidlecly i'orthispurposaQ j y H A The armature 9 6 is reset to attracted position loth - l'br example, within -upm ` tem by pressing'thc resetbutton Il! inwardly against the tension of-the spring' Ill. With the pilot burner lighted and the electromagnet energized by the heat of the flame 'of the pilot burner on the thermocouple Il the armature," is held in attracted position by the magnetic iiux set 'up by the thermoelectric current when reset-to attracted position, as described. l

From the fo folug itl will be apparent that i! either the pilot llame is extinguished or the desired safety temperature is exceeded, lthe annature or keeper 12 is released and the valve Il closes to shutoff. the supply of fuel to the main burner.

In the embodimentl of the invention illustrated in Figure 1 the Curie point member 'Il is cf auch v character that its critical temperature at which` it becomes non-magnetic or at least of insuill cient magnetic strength to hold the keeper 'Il in attractedposition is the same as themasimum safetytemperature of the water in the tank. This may vary widely.- Wherethe device is used in connection with oven heaters, space heaters, or v safety shutoifposition upon other abnormal.

' coefficient of expansion of the tubeis greater.

than that of the rod M'. 'Ihe rod may. vfor exdefective, or insumcient functioning or nonfunctioning of the apparatus; an electric or heater circuitfmay be provided for heating the point material, and this 'circuit may be contrblled by meh other abnormal, defective, lor

tion. yis'eifective'and reliable in operation, is easy toas'seirble 'andinstalhandhasamxickorsnap f insuiilcient f\mctioning or non-fimctioning of the acting yshut-oi! for shutting o! the supply of fuel at the desired temperature or upon other abnor-I maL'defective, or insuilicient fimctioning, 01. nonfunctioningof the apparatuajand also upon extinguisbment of the pilot name'. l

I have described the invention in connection with thefdetails of a particullr'embodiment, but I do not intendtliereby to limit the invention to .such detalla-nor do I intend to be limited tothe paricular embodiment and 'relation of the essential featux'e'ssliownv and described.

thebroaderaspectsofthe invention the valve member constitutes a control member. An electric switch. may. within l 'such broader aspects, be employed in lieu Aof the valve' member Il. Where employed in lieu of the valve member ll yoi! the present invention, such switch may beheld closed'asv long'as the Curie point member 1I is magnetic and the electromag. net is energized, and releasedfor actuation to open circuit position upon heating of the Curie point member to its critical temperature, or

extinguishment of the pilot flame. 111e switch may, for example, maintain a circuit for l y'a solenoidor motorvalve closed to hold such` valveepen for a supply of fuel as long as the Curie point member is not-heated to its critical 'man at the critical temperature, 0r um extin.. guishment of the pilot name, the switch may open the circuit for the solenoid or motor valve, and

thisvalve mayoperate position to shut oifthesupplyoffueltothcmainlmrner bodied in s heatregmmrfez the type comprising means for controlling Vthe supply. jof fuel to the heating apparatus, means forfsetting the device for the desired temperature, and thermally 011-- erativemeans for operating-'the control means with temperature changes to maintain substanr tially selected temperatures., l

This latter embodiment of theinvention is the same asV the preceding embodiment except in the following respects. 'Ihe tube and rodll' vconf stitutein this case a rod and tube type thermostat well known vin the art. Thetube Sis composed of a thermally responsivemetal which has a coemcient of expansion diflerentfrom the coemcient of expansion of the metal rod I4'. In-

the particularemb'odiment shownin Figure 3, the

ample, be made of a materialwhich'is-substantially free from contraction and expansion under temperature changes,A and the tube may be made f of s metal having a krelatively high eoefllcienty of expansion.

The. stemr ll' constitutes a adiustin'g or selecting ystern that extends ytlniough and is rotatable in a limit control member ill.

At its inner end the stem' ll' has a diametri cally extending 'v pin inr or other means vvhlclil engages, for example, in a diametrical slot ill@ in the'outer end of the valve member Il! to turn the valveemember .|32 upon rotation :of the stein Il'. The valve memberll! is threaded upon theouter end of the thermostat vrod Il'.l

'andthe rod Il'. is splinedor keyed against turning movement, for, example ati, beingat the same time free for endwise movement as before;y

The spring itl. which corresponds with the spring 3l of the preceding-embodiment,'isinterposed between the valve lmember |82 and the spring The. umn 1 control 'member vm is--uireaded .through the valve cup''. and the stem Il' has a iiange or shoulder ill whichis positioned being in the member ill through whichl the stem exterlds.. f

In operation of ure 3, by grasping -the'knob Il' and turning the stem si. the valvemay be threaded alongthe rod Il' to provide anydesired amount opening to maintain any desiredtemperature as indicated by the pointer...

re and the pilothrurner is ignited.`

With the selecting means set to provide a u valve openingV for the selected temperature if the temperature exceeds the ,selected temperature,- there will be va vpr'opoi'tiorn.te expansion of at least-the thermally sensitive tube.

expanding at leastmore than the rod N' tends to draw mevnve elem' to 1u restful mamma I the selected temperature. Ifthe temperature drops bellow the selected temperaturathe tube. contracts with respectio the rodll' and. as a t result. the rod forces the valve i!! farther away from its seat to increase the valve opening.

'rhs shut-oir temperature maybe nume by turningthe limitr control member to ,increase ordecresse the .tension inthe spring Ill. when the knob 8l' is turned to sdiustthe positiony o! thewalve member ilLf'the movement ofthe mma :have.neuntllednventicnem-jlvalve'member lnchanges the tension :in the.

the embodiment :shown in Hg maintain the selected temperature.

spring |35 and, thereby. the shut-olf or limit control temperature. However, by turning the limit control member |26, the shut-off temperature may be adjusted to any desired temperature with any selected positioning of the valve member |32.

For the purpose of indicating the shut-off or limit control temperature and the temperature which the thermostat is to maintain the knob 38 has a pointer |42 which turnsvwith the knob 38' and stem v35', and may beset and secured inV different angular positions with respect` tothe stem 35' to calibrate it relative tc'its scale. The pointer |42 is shown as cooperating with a. dial or scale marked, for instance, on the valve cap 36', at |44, to indicate the temperaturewhich the valve member |32 is set to maintain. Either a portion of the same pointer |42 or another pointer |45, which also turns with the knob 38 and stem 35', cooperates with a dial or scale marked, for instance, on the limit control member |26 at |46 to lindicate the temperature atv which the Curie. point member will operate to ing, a rod extending into said housing and co-A'V operating with said valve member, a keeper on said rod,V magnetic means :comprising a permanent magnet and a Curie point. member forv attracting and holding said keeper attracted to open and holdsaid valve open', an electromagnet, an armature :for vsaid electromagnet, an

actuator operated by movement of said Yarmature for compelling said keeper to retracted position and said valve to closed Aposition independently of the temperature adjacent said Curie point member, and a tube enclosing said rod, said tube being secured to, said housing and supporting'said permanent magnet and said'Cu'- rie point member, said electromagnet having support on said housing.

4; In a device oftheV class-described, in combination, a housing, control means in said housing, magnetic means'comprising a Curie point member for rendering said control meansz operative at temperatures below the critical temperarelease the valve member for movement to safety shut-off position.

Turning of the member |26 to bring any 'desired temperature marking thereon in register,

for instance, with the pointer |45 sets the device so that the valve member |32 will close at that temperature. Turning of the knob 38 to bring' the pointer |42 into register with theA desired temperature marking on the scale or dial |44 sets the valve member |32 in position to i When the position of the valve is changed to change the temperature to be maintained and thereby, by

changing the tension in the spring |35, changes the safety shut-od temperature, the device may be set for the same safety shut-off temperature as before, or for any other safety shut-oli temperature, by turning the limit controlmember |26. Y Y

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, inv combination, 'a housing, a control member in said housing, a rod extending into Vsaid housing and cooperating with said control member, a keeper Y ori-said rod, magnetic means comprising. a Curie point member for attracting and holding said 'ture of the Curie point member and` releasing said control means for movement tosafety position at substantially the critical temperature of said Curie point member, an electromagnet controlled by an abnormal condition other than the temperature adjacent said- Curie point mem-- tive at temperatures below the critical temperakeeper attracted to move said control member to operating position and to hold same in said f position,- an electromagnet remote from said 'Curie point member, an armature for said electromagnet, and an actuator operated by the movement of said armature and independently of thetemperature adjacent-said Curie point member for actuating said rod in a direction to compelsaid keeper to retracted position and to release said control member Vfor movement to safety position.

2. In a device of the class described, in combination, a housing, a valve member in said heusing, a rod extending into said housing' and cooperating with said valve member, a keeper on said rod, magnetic means comprising a Curie point member for attracting and holding said keeper attracted to open and hold said valve open, an electromagnet remote from said Curie point member, an armature for said electromagnet and an actuator operated by movement of said armature and independently of the temperature adjacent said Curie point member for y compelling said keeper to retracted position Vand said valve to closed position.

3. Ina device of the class described, in comture of the Curie point member and releasing. said control means for movementv to safety position at substantially the critical temperature of said Curiel point member, a thermocouple 'subject to the heat of a flame, an electromagnetY connected in circuit with said thermocouple, an

armature adapted to be held to said electromagnet as lo'ng as the thermocouple is heated by the iiame and tobe released for movement tok retracted position vupon extinguishment of the flame, an actuator actuated by movement of said amature to retracted position for releasing said control means for movement to safety position, and means for resetting said Varmature to attracted position.

6. In combinationfa vmain burner', afuel sup-` Y ply pipe leading to said burner, a valve in said pipe, a pilot burner in juxtaposition to said main burner, a thermocouple placed in position to be heated by said `pilot burner, magnetic means comprising a Curie point member for rendering said valvev operative at temperatures below the criticaly temperature of the rCurie point memberv and for releasing said valve for movement toclosed position at substantially the critical temperature of said Curiepoint member, an actuator for releasing said valve member for 'movefVY ment to closed position, an, armature for aetuating said actuator, and an electromagnet connected in circuit with saidY thermocouple for holding said armature in attracted'positionas long as said thermocouple is heated by said pilot burner. i Y

7. In a device of the cla-ssV described, inV com- K binaton, a housing, control means in said housbination, a housing, a valve member in said housing, a -rod and-tube thermostat extendingfrom said-housing, said rod cooperating withjsaid condisposed substantially normal t amature to retracted positionfevfor'" foro trol means to operate said control meansand maintain substantially selected temperatures, magnetic means comprising a Curie point'member for rendering said rod operative ,vvith j.tem perature changes below the critical vt'exnpe"rature of said Curie point member `and releasing 'said rod for movement of said control means to safety position at substantially trie-critical'temperatureof said Curie point member',anelectroniagnet, an armature for said electroma'gnet, saidiarmature having attracted and retracted positioris`,""1al -`'ian actuator actuated by movement ofr said rma.- ture to retracted.positiojffor forcing sai rod in a direction to releasesame from 'said'`v Curie point member.

8. In a device of the class described, vin vcomof said Curie point member, an l having attracted `l`and; r'etractec'i;5 abutment on said'f'zr'cd, and a pivot e cooperating `with -said armature "and with said abutment and actuated by movementl iwsaid @said rod in a direction to release samerrom saidcune point member. Y l 1 'j` 9. In a device of the class describedbincombination, a housing, controlmeans in said hous-y ing, a rod and tube thermostat extending from said housing, said rod cooperating withsaid control means to operate said control means and maintain substantially selected temperatures, magnetic means comprising a Curie pointi'nember for rendering said rod operative with temperature changes below the critical temperature of said Curie rod for movement of said control means tosafety position at substantially the critical temperature of said Curie point member, an electromagnet, an armature for said electromagnet, spring means for moving said armature to retractedpo'sition, reset means for resetting the armatureifinto attracted position, and-an actuatorv Icooperating with said armature and with said ro'd andactuated by movement of the armature to'retracted position for forcing said rod infa'direction to release same from said Curie point member. l

10. In a device of -the class described, in oombination, a housing, a control memberin said housing, a spring retainer inV 'said housing, a spring interposed between` said control member and said retainer, selectingmeans 4cooperable with said spring retainer for setting said control mem- Vber'to different selected-positions, a rod and tube thermostatextendingiroxn said housing, saidrod cooperating at one end with said control-member to operate said control member andmaintain substantially selected temperatures, a keeper on the opposite end of the rod, magnetic means comprising a Curie point member iixed insaid tube and adapted to hold said keeper inattracted psition for actuation of said control member bY said thermostat upon changes in. temperature below the critical temperature of said Curie point point member and releasing saidY member, and releasing "said keeper for movement of said control member to safety position at substantially the criticaltemperatureof said Curie point member, a thermocouplesubject to the heat of a flame, an electromagnet connectedin circuit with said thermocouple;V an armature adapted to be held to said electromagnet as long as the thermocouple is heated by the-flamefand to be reg leased for movement to retracted position upon p extinguishment of'the fianie,.an actuator actuated by movement-.of said .armature to retracted position for releasing 'said control means for movement to safety position, and means for resetting said armature lto attracted position. .y

11. In combination, acontrol member, a stem therefor,` an abutment on-saidlstem. an electromagnet disposed at substantially right angles to said stem,v an armature adapted to be heldA in attracted position by memberfor movement to safety position by movement of the armature to retracted position, a keeper on saidstem, and magnetic means lcom-v prising a Curie point member for holding said keeper lattracted and thereby the` control member inoperative position at temperatures below the critical,` temperature ofthe Curie pointl member and releasingsaid` keeper formovement yof the control member, to safety lposition .at vsubstantially the critical temperature of saidCurie kpoint member..v n Y `12. In a device of the class described, in coma valve, a tube, a rod disposed within bination, said tube and cooperating with said valve at its outer end, magnetic means comprising a Curie point member near the inner end-of saidl tube for holding the inner endof said rod tofsaid tube to hold said valve open at temperatures below the critical temperature ofthe Curie point member, means at the outer end ofthe device for adjusting the temperature at ywhich the valve termediate its is released for movement to safety shut-,oil position, and actuator means cooperablev with said rod intermediate` its endsV and also adapted for releasing said valve for movement to safety shutoff position. Y I,

'13. In a device of the class described, in combination, a valve body, a valve member within said valve body, a tube, a rod disposedwlthin said tube and having motion imparting cooperation with said valve member, means wholly within said tube and at the inner end of said rod for holding said rod `shifted to position for holding said valve member open, said tube being im perforate adjacent to saidV holding means. said last means being operable to release said rod'i'or movement of said valve Ymember to closed position upon occurrence of an abnormal condition, means cooperable mechanically with said rod inendsand adapted for actuating said rod endwise ina direction to release said holding means tor movement of said valve member to closed position, a spring abutment member disposed within said valve body outwardly oi said valve member, aspringinterposed between said valve member and said abutmentrnember for moving said valve member to closed position, and an adjusting screw carried by the lvalvebody and cooperable with said abutment member to rfsaid.; electromagnetfand l vadapted for movement toretracted position when ywith the armatureand, e actuating .the stem .ina direction to release. said .controlV adjust the temperature at which theinner end ofthe rodisreleasedf Y 14. In a device'of the class described, a rod adapted for endwise movement, a valve member Y disposed at one end of said rod, magnetic means Y "15. 1n a devicefof the 'class described, in com- Y bination, a valve, a rod `having motion imparting cooperation with said valve, means for holding said rod shifted toposition for holding saidV .valve open, an electromagnet disposed within they" length of said rod andwith its axis directed gen-1 1 erally laterally relative to the axis of the rod, an armature for said electromagnet, an abutment on said rod, an kactuator cooperating with said abutment and said armature for shifting said rod in a direction for movement of said valve to closed position uponrmovement of said armature toj'retracted position, means at the opposite side of said rod for cooking said armature to attracted i position, and means straddling` said rod and operatively connecting said cooking means and said armature. Y

Y HAROLD A. MANTZ. 

